Review: Ocean at the end of the lane

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by Neil Gaiman

A lonely house.  A lonely boy.  And monsters lurking in the isolated British countryside!

Neil Gaiman’s tale is a first-person narrative told via flashbacks by a man visiting his boyhood home and remembering what happened to him when he turned seven-years old.   The plot unravels slowly, like layers peeled back on an onion, as the man recalls his youth and discovers clues about strange events that changed his life.

Ocean is appropriate for middle-grade readers and up.  I don’t recommend it for younger or sensitive readers …. there are some scary characters and a disturbing bathtub scene ….. plus, a brief make-out session between daddy and nanny that’s innocently observed by the lad. 

Boys who generally don’t like to read would especially enjoy the audio version of this book.  Narrated by the author himself in Gaiman’s deep luscious British accent, it’s easy to imagine oneself as a child .... in that quirky lane .... running from its monsters!

On a personal note, Gaiman penned "The Doctor's Wife," one of my fave BBC-produced Dr. Who episodes featuring Dr. #11, Matt Smith.  Have you seen it?  I'm truly glad Gaiman uses all media to entertain, enlighten and, scare us!

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